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“I’m running from the mob,” Ruby blurts out. “I didn’t know my family was part of the Colombo crime family until my mother was murdered. Mom made sure I was kept far away from all of it. After she died, my father planned to marry me off to another faction of the family to appease them for some deal my father had made, which didn’t go well. I didn’t want to get married, and I couldn’t imagine being involved in their life of crime, so I ran. It’s a long, complicated story, but that’s the gist of it.” Lisa nods as she continues to speed down side streets.
“So, those are mobsters in the SUV,” Lisa states, her mouth set into a thin, grim line. “You’re going to think I’m crazy, but I’m actually relieved.” Ruby’s head whips to the side to look at Lisa to see if she’s being real or not.
“What?” Ruby asks incredulously. “What is worse than the mob?” Ruby thinks Lisa has surely lost her ever living mind. Russo is ruthless and will think nothing of killing both of them if he catches them.
“My ex,” Lisa replies, grimly. “He’s a police officer and a narcistic psychopath. Those mobsters might kill us if they catch us, but my ex? He’ll torture us for days, weeks, or months before he kills us. It won’t matter to him that you have nothing to do with anything between him and me. He gets off on hurting people. He’s only gotten worse in recent years. He’s a damn good actor, too. So good, his co-workers never believed me when I reported his abuse. He’s part of the reason I moved here from Kentucky.” While Ruby could appreciate Lisa being afraid of an abusive ex, she can’t imagine anything worse than the Russo family and their goons.
They continue to take different streets for several minutes, but they don’t see the SUV again. Lisa finally makes the decision it’s safe to either go back to Abigail’s or continue on their way. Ruby doesn’t want to go back to the house for fear if it is Russo he might hurt Abigail or one of the other women just to get to her, so she tells Lisa to take her to the diner. Once Lisa has dropped her off at the diner, Ruby calls Abigail.
“Hello?” Abigail answers on the second ring.
“Hi Abigail, it’s Ruby. Lisa and I were followed by a black SUV.” Abigail’s gasp causes Ruby to pause. “It may have been nothing, but after Tony finding me, I can’t help, but worry that Russo might have found me. I just wanted to warn you to be cautious. Don’t open the door for anyone you don’t know, even deliveries. Just tell them to leave it at the door, and if anyone looks suspicious call the police right away.”
“I’ll be careful Ruby, I promise,” Abigail assures her. “You need to be careful, too. Where are you right now?”
“We lost our tail, and I had Lisa to bring me to the diner,” Ruby tells her. “If I see anything of concern, I’ll get out of here right away or call the police if I don’t feel it’s safe to run.”
“Ruby, please be careful,” Abigail says softly. “I know you haven’t known me long, but you’re my friend, and I’m hoping we’ll be like the sister neither of us has ever had before.” Ruby has always liked Abigail, but a new appreciation and affection blooms in her at Abigail’s words.
“I’ll be careful,” Ruby promises. “I know what to watch for. I’ve managed to evade him this long, I’m sure everything will be fine. I better get to work before Becky and Jose send out a search party.”
“Okay, but text me from time to time so I know you’re safe,” Abigail demands.
“I will.” Ruby ends the call and hurries into the diner. The place isn’t too busy. Ruby dons her apron. She gets a few customers over the next hour. With it not being so busy, she and Becky roll up silverware in napkins, making sure they’ll have plenty made up before the dinner rush. Once that task is complete and she checks on her remaining table, she decides to head into the back to see if there’s anything else that needs doing before it begins to get busy again. She’s kept in contact with Abigail and Lisa over the last few hours. Neither woman has encountered anything out of the ordinary. Ruby is almost convinced she and Lisa had panicked for nothing earlier. She decides with both of them trying to hide from someone it has made them overly paranoid.
Ruby enters the back store room. Several bags of garbage have been left by the back door. The new busboy is lazy. They are constantly having to hunt him down to get him to do his job. Many times, she’s found him just outside the back door smoking a cigarette. She suspects this is the case again. She debates between going to find him and just taking out the trash herself. She peeks out the back door but doesn’t see him out there. Instead of hunting him down, she decides to take it out herself. It won’t take long.
Lifting up a large bag in each hand, Ruby heads out the back door to cross the parking lot to the large dumpsters in the corner. Just as she’s throwing the second bag up and over the high door, she’s grabbed from behind. Despite the smell from the rotting trash in the dumpster, she catches a whiff of cologne. She’d know that nauseating scent anywhere. Russo, Jr. has found her. She fights against his hold. A sharp pain in her neck causes more fear. He’s stuck her with something. Within seconds her limbs grow heavy. She sags into his hold. As darkness closes in around her, he lifts her off her feet and begins to carry her toward a black SUV. Thoughts of Tucker and what they could’ve shared flash briefly in her mind just before she completely loses consciousness.
53
TANK
The rest of the flight after speaking with the girl passes in a strained silence with the occasional whispered words between some of the team members. Tank broods. His gut getting tighter by the minute. Once the plane lands in San Antonio for a refuel, Tank grabs his cell out of his pack and turns it on. He notices the other guys doing the same. As they begin to depart, a chorus of chimes and alerts sound from several of their phones. Tank looks to see he’s gotten several texts from Ruby.
Ruby:I miss you already, and you’ve only just left. Be safe and come home to me. Good night
Ruby: Good Morning.Another day without you here. I miss and love you. Can’t wait until you’re back.
Ruby:Abi, Ellie, and I are doing good. We’re planning a special meal for you and Straw good night, Love you!
Ruby:Good morning, Tucker! Really hope today is the day you return.
Tank smiles as he reads the messages Ruby sent while he’s been gone. Seeing them relieves some of the fear he’s felt after hearing the woman’s information. He shoots her a text to tell her they are back in country and will be home in a few hours as soon as they debrief.
Deadeye and Wolf are deep in conversation as they enter the hanger. The rest of the team is hanging around talking among themselves or on their phones checking messages. The girl they rescued is being given some food and drink by Mozart and Abe. Tank checks his phone, but there’s no response from Ruby. He sends another text, thinking she could just be busy at the diner and didn’t hear his first one. He looks around the room. Straw is on his phone. He turns to look at Tank. His face has a tortured look. When their eyes meet Tank stumbles as understanding hits him. Russo has her.
“No!” he roars, falling to his knees. Tears are in blurring his vision. His worst fear being realized. Straw, Hack, and Mercury appear at his side, lending him their support.
“We’ll get her back,” Straw kneels in front of him, holding his gaze. “She’s smart and strong. She knows you’ll come for her. She’ll hold on until you can get to her.” Tank wants to believe Straw, but he knows Russo is a ruthless bastard. He fears what the man may have done and may be doing to her. She needs him. He has to pull it together. Swiping at his face. With Straw’s help, he stands.
“We have to get to New York,” Tank demands. Straw nods and glances at Deadeye, whose jaw is clenched tight, a muscle ticking rapidly in his jaw. He has his phone to his ear. He says something into the phone, but Tank can’t hear what’s being said. A roaring sound has filled his ears as his fear for Ruby and his anger at Russo floods his body.
“Keep your shit together,” Hack says. “She’s going to need you to be strong for her. We will get her back.” Deadeye approaches.
“That was Hawk on the phone,” Deadeye gives Tank a hard look. “Hawk’s had Tex reviewing camera footage from the diner. It was definitely Russo who took her. Hawk’s working to get us out of here as soon as possible. I’m sorry she’s been taken Tank, but like Hack and Straw said, she’s tough, and we will get her back.”
Wolf and his team have joined them on the tarmac. “Is there anything we can do to help?” Wolf asks.
